Forklift Controls
Among the most common kinds of machines you would see inside any warehouse is a forklift. These all-around machines are comprised of a vehicle with two pronged forks at the front which are capable of transporting and carrying heavy objects.
The regular lift truck is built to work and move in small spaces and is able to lift things to and from high up places. Lift trucks are still really dangerous equipment and must be utilized safely at all times, after proper training and certification has taken place.
When new to a forklift, take time to read the owner's manual and be familiar with the controls. Be certain to take note of the location of every particular control and what specific feature it functions. Most lift trucks have two levers which control the forks. The first lever controls the fork height. In order to make the forks go down, the lever must be pushed forward. To be able to move the forks upwards, you simply pull back on the lever.
The forklift's second lever is utilized to tilt the forks allowing for better weight distribution across the forklift. This tilting action helps to keep objects steady and won't allow items to fall off when driving. Additionally, it helps things slide off while unloading in a more balanced method.
To be able to tilt the forks back, you pull the lever back and in order to tilt the forks forward, you just push the lever forward. Various types of forklifts are equipped with a third lever which controls the fork width. Each one of these levers is situated just to the right of the operator's seat.
Inexperienced drivers should take advantage of qualified coworkers who could go over the controls with them. Be sure to do this while the forklift is off and not operational. Ask the qualified professional if you have any questions about how anything functions.
Observation is usually the best way to learn new forklift skills. So take time to observe a coworker demonstrating the function of each control. On hydrostatic lift trucks, notice that to be able to make the machinery go, you use the gas. And if you would like to make it stop, you just release the gas pedal. There is no brake on these kinds of lift trucks. There are several kinds of hydrostatic forklifts which are complete with battery powered engines which shut off when the gas pedal is released. They start up when the gas pedal is pushed again.